The nutritive value of kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) leaf and the use of pelleted leaf in rations high or low in energy

Abstract

The nutritive value of leaf material cut from a highly fertilized kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clan destinum) sward was assessed with penned sheep in a 6 x 6 latin square design over 21 8 days. Estimates of the nutritive value were made for the dried leaf, leaf with a mineral supplement, leaf milled and pelleted and for rations that contained the pellets and either oaten chaff or grain. The leaf had an organic matter digestibility (OMD) of 63.5 per cent and contained 3.5 per cent nitrogen (N). Milling and pelleting the leaf did not significantly affect those values although OMD was lower (60.5 per cent), voluntary intake higher (by 16 per cent) and the rate of da ily live mass gain by sheep (1 17 g day-1) increased threefold, compared with those on the unmilled leaf ration. All sheep had net retentions of N (range 2.7-10.1 g day-1 ; P < 0.01). The rate of wool growth did not differ significantly between sheep on the rations whereas the rate of live mass change was highest for sheep on pellets : grain (60 : 40) (183 g day-1) and lowest for sheep on pellets : chaff (60 : 40) (3 g day-1; P < 0.01).